"We continue to hold the town. The information given by the army is erroneous and fallacious," he told AFP.

"Since last week, we have seen three vehicles belonging to the presidential guard, but that's all," said Lala, who said he was in regular contact with forces on the ground.

Lala would not say how many CPJP troops were in Yalinga, which has a population of about 10 000 people.

Yalinga is near the town of Ndele, the former base of the CPJP until they were driven out by a government offensive in May and June this year.

The CPJP has refused to sign a peace agreement with Bangui aimed at bringing stability to the country, and claims its leader, a former minister, was murdered while in detention in January, which the government denies.